C
Business
onnections March 2013
March is “Engineering Month” in Orangeville March has been proclaimed “Engineering Month” in Orangeville in recognition of the significance of the engineering sector to our local economy. The Town celebrates the hard work and innovation of our local engineering firms. Joining Councillor Rose is the new Director of Public Works for the Town of Orangeville Engineer Doug Jones (seated), Water Works Technologist Tim Thompson and Public Works Technologist Tony Dulisse.
Engineering prospects strong In January 2013, Engineers Canada released Engineering Labour Market in Canada: Projections to 2020, a labour market study showing that Canada is facing a short supply of engineers with more than 10 years of specialized experience and projecting that 95,000 professional engineers will retire by 2020. The report indicates that Canada will face a skills shortage because the workforce cannot be replaced fast enough by incoming Canadian or experienced, internationally-trained graduates and the report found that supply and demand imbalances are becoming more serious. While engineering labour market conditions vary from region to region, markets must find ways to strike a balance between retiring workers and training incoming graduates and international engineers interested in working in Canada. The study indicates that the shortage of highly-skilled professionals is a significant issue faced by Canada’s engineering industry and that understanding the future specialized needs of the industry is critical. In an effort to help address this future skills shortage, the Orangeville campus of Georgian College will begin delivering the Technologies Fundamentals Program this fall. The one-year certificate program is designed to provide students with a foundation for future workplace opportunities and the necessary mathematics knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to support further education in technology programs. By expanding opportunities for students to explore various streams of engineering specialization now, youth can be better prepared for future job growth areas. “Our goal is to support technology education that will cultivate home-grown expertise to meet local and global demands,” says Dave Forbes, Georgian’s Campus Manager for Orangeville. The full Engineering Labour Market in Canada report, which outlines demographic trends and job growth projections, including an overview of disciplines and geographical markets, can be reviewed at www.engineerscanada.ca. To learn more about the Technologies Fundamentals Program, visit www.georgianc.on.ca.
ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA
Volume 4
Issue 2
COMPANY PROFILE
Triton Engineering Services Limited For almost five decades, Orangeville’s Triton Engineering Services Limited has been improving the quality of community life by working with municipalities to help manage their public infrastructure. The business provides a wide range of civil engineering services and completes a significant amount of work with municipalities, helping to turn technological and environmental challenges into practical solutions. Established in Orangeville in 1964, Triton has a long-standing history of success in the community. In fact, from its main Orangeville location, the firm completes work throughout central Ontario and has expanded its operations twice to include offices in Gravenhurst and Fergus. Howard Wray has been with Triton Engineering Services for 25 years, first as an employee and then as an owner and principal. During that time, Mr. Wray has participated in a wide range of projects related to the Town’s growth. From the reconstruction of Broadway and other major roadways to the completion of the Riddell Road arterial bypass within Town limits, Triton has played a significant role in shaping the local area. The business has grown with the community and since establishing here almost 50 years ago, Triton has remained current by adopting best practices and solutions. A growing focus on environmental stewardship, for example, means that Triton makes it a priority to promote sustainable solutions and implement practices that impact the long-term viability of the local environment. “Every project includes an environmental component. We always look for strategies that promote energy efficiency that are ecologically sound and which protect the natural environment,” says Mr. Wray. Customer satisfaction is another priority for Triton and the company strives to respond quickly and efficiently to its clientele. “Being accessible to our customer base is crucial,” says Mr. Wray. “We specialize in providing engineering services to small and mid-sized municipalities so Orangeville’s central location is ideal for our operation.” Mr. Wray also cites stability as an important factor in the delivery of service excellence and acknowledges the Town’s many attributes in helping to achieve this goal. “The quality of life amenities, recreational opportunities and small town feel help attract people to the community and we have been able to maintain a strong and stable workforce as a result.” Stable, environmentally conscious, and customer-focused are just a few words that describe this established and experienced engineering firm and Orangeville is proud to be home to Triton Engineering Services. To learn more about the broad range of services provided by Triton, visit www.tritoneng.on.ca.
Connect with Business. Connect with Life.
THINGS TO KNOW
IN THE NEWS
2013 Summer Company Program The Orangeville & Area SBEC will once again partner with the Province of Ontario to deliver the 2013 Summer Company Program. Summer Company provides students with training, mentorship and awards of up to $3,000 to help them start and run their own summer businesses. The program is open to students aged 15 to 29 who are returning to school in the fall and provides a great opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills while making money at the same time. Students can apply for the program by visiting www.ontario.ca/summercompany or calling the SBEC office at 519-941-0440 Ext. 2258.
Orangeville Farmers’ Market returns soon Orangeville’s popular Farmers’ Market will open for the season on May 11, 2013. Located right outside Town Hall on Second Street, opening day will feature a free pancake breakfast along with fresh produce, locally raised meats, baked goods, unique crafts and more. Rain or shine, the market will operate 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May 11 to October 26. The Orangeville Farmers’ Market provides a great way to support our local farmers.
Business Visitation Program provides opportunity to share ideas The Town of Orangeville wants to hear from its local business community and offers a Business Visitation program in order to achieve increased communication and customer service to local entrepreneurs. Taking a pro-business approach, the program exists to help Town staff learn more about Orangeville-based ventures and the issues that business owners may be facing. With the goal of helping existing businesses to solve problems by identifying and where possible, removing barriers and concerns, the program helps staff to provide business owners with information, referrals, and advice about programs and services that are available to help them become more competitive and to remain and expand in Orangeville. The program involves staff conducting an hour-long visit to the business where they become more familiar with the operation and perform a confidential interview with the owner/member of senior staff in order to obtain information on the issues and opportunities facing businesses in our community. Using a short but comprehensive survey, staff will learn about the business, explore issues and target in on areas where the Town may be able to help. In addition to supporting local entrepreneurs where possible, the Business Visitation Program also helps staff to evaluate satisfaction levels, identify emerging trends, develop value-added services for Orangeville companies, and establish longer-term economic and community development priorities that will support the Orangeville business community. Staff are interested in talking to businesses across all sectors. If you are an Orangeville-based business owner and would like to participate in the program, please contact 519-941-0440 Ext. 2291.
UPCOMING EVENTS
REAL ESTATE FEATURED LISTING
Turning Website Visitors into Qualified Leads • March 26, 9 a.m. WSI representative Denise Gervais, an expert in website conversion architecture, will lead this seminar focused on turning website visitors into qualified leads and clients. Topics covered will include engaging potential customers, soliciting contacts and quotes, utilizing imagery and content to encourage engagement, using mobile devices and social media, and utilizing analytics to measure success. Cost $15 + HST.
Northwest Corner C Line and Centennial Road More than six acres of shovel-ready industrial land available for sale. Located at the northwest corner of Centennial Road and C Line, the land is close to the Orangeville bypass and can gain access to a rail spur of the Orangeville-Brampton Railway. The land is zoned M-1 for general industrial uses. The lot size is 2.523 ha (6.234 ac) and can be severed into two or three smaller parcels. The current asking price for the land is $215,000 per acre. Interested buyers should contact Nancy Huether, Manager of Economic Development, Town of Orangeville at 519-941-0440 Ext. 2270 or by email at edo@orangeville.ca.
Practical Market Research • April 3, 10 a.m. Taking the time to thoroughly research a new business idea can have a huge impact on the success of your venture. This workshop will focus on implementing a market research process that will help you identify consumer and industry trends, define customer demographics and behaviours, analyze the competition, and make sound business decisions. Participants will learn about market research techniques and cost-effective resources that can help with the decisionmaking process. Cost $10 + HST.
Financing Your Small Business • April 23, 9 a.m. Led by TD Canada Trust representatives, this workshop is designed to help small business owners understand financing from a banking perspective. Learn about how bankers determine lending qualifications, how to best present your business case and how to leverage personal equity for start-up loans. Free.
Starting a Small Business • May 15, 6:30 p.m. In this session participants will learn about what is involved in starting a small business in Ontario, why a business plan is so important and what is involved in developing a successful business plan. This workshop will answer many start-up questions and provide participants with the tools needed to begin working on their own “road maps” to success. Cost $10 + HST.
ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA
87 Broadway, Orangeville, Ontario L9W 1K1 Phone: 519-941-0440 Toll Free: 1-866-941-0440 E-mail: info@orangevillebusiness.ca Twitter: @OrangevilleED You Tube: Orangeville Business Facebook: Orangeville Economic Development & Tourism